Page 30 of Shielding Aubree

He hated to say it, but he had to. "Aubree, we can't."

It killed him to watch her come around. She'd been in the same trance-like state that he'd been in, but seeing her shake herself awake...

Reality crashed into her like a pitcher of ice-cold water dropped in her lap.

He hated to see the pain and sorrow in her eyes.

"Oh my God. I'm sorry."

She tried to pull away from him and he wouldn't let her.

Couldn't let her.

If he did, he knew that whatever thoughts she had in her head would echo in her mind over and over and he'd never be able to bridge the gap with her again.

"Aubree. Look. At. Me."

She lifted her head and fixed her gaze on his, and her jaw had become a hard line. "Why? You don't have to let me down easy. Imade a mistake. I got it. You don't have to worry about me trying to kiss you again."

She triedto pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her go.

For one crazy, idiotic moment she considered flipping him right over her shoulder.

And she could have, but that had been before the car accident.

If she tried it now, she was likely to do permanent damage to herself.

Thankfully she had enough self-preservation to try and brush it off.

It was easier that way.

"Let. Me. Go."

Ruben let her go, but he did it slowly so she could keep on her feet. "Aubree. Please, let's talk."

"No." She turned away and realized how stupid it was. She was facing the side of the pool that didn't have steps or a ladder.

There was no way that she could heft herself over the edge of the pool in any way that looked like she knew what she was doing.

"Aubree, please."

She turned and struggled to keep her expression neutral.

She really felt like a complete mess.

She'd tried to kiss Ruben!

Sure, she'd thought that there was a connection between them, maybe even a flirtation of some sort, but to try and kiss him?

She bit the inside of her cheek and leaned into the pain. Pain kept her focused.

It kept her from crying and whining about her incredible embarrassing mistake.

Aubree could see the look in his eyes. He was trying to find a way to be kind.

That's just the way he was.

And she'd been ready not just to cross the line with him, but she'd been ready to jump over it and that would have been a disaster.

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